Good at vs. Good in—Learn the Difference (Audio Reading Included)
- Alex
- 12 hours ago
- 5 min read
The Difference between Good at and Good in
Level: intermediate (B1+)
Good at and good in are examples of collocations—words that often go together. These two phrases are sometimes mixed up by English learners. This is understandable since collocations with prepositions are one of most annoying things to learn in any language. Like all new vocabulary, you need to see them, hear them, and use them again and again until you use them correctly without thinking.
So, what's the difference between good at and good in?
Use good at to say someone is skilled at something, meaning they do something well.
Example: She's good at [public speaking/swimming/baseball/etc.].
Use good in to say someone performs well or feels comfortable in particular contexts.
Example: He's good in [a crisis/group environments/high-pressure situations].
Also, use good in to talk about clothes and colours that are suitable or not suitable for someone. This usually requires the phrase look good in.
Example: You look good in [blue/preppy clothes/sunglasses].
Basically:
GOOD AT = SKILL
GOOD IN = CONTEXT/SETTING
Good at is used more often and is the safest choice in most situations, but let's look at these phrases more closely and learn when to use them.
When to Use Good at
If you are skilled at something, you are good at it. If you are not skilled at something, you are not good at it. Here are a bunch of categories and examples:
You can be good at sports.
She's really good at soccer.
He was never good at baseball.
I want to be good at badminton.
Is he good at downhill skiing?
You can be good at games and hobbies.
My aunt is really good at chess.
I've never been good at board games.
He's always been good at video games.
I'm pretty good at Sudoku.
You can be good at musical instruments.
She's good at guitar.
I'm not good at piano.
Are you good at trombone?
He's really good at bass guitar.
Note: You can also be good on an instrument, meaning when you are "on" that instrument, you are able to play it well.
You can be good at art or creative skills.
He's good at photography.
I had an uncle who was really good at dancing.
Are you good at drawing?
She's really good at singing.
You can be good at academic subjects.
I'm not good at math.
I was never good at physics.
Are you good at English?
He has always been good at biology.
You can be good at DOING things.
I'm good at fixing cars.
She's not good at talking in public.
Are you good at cooking?
I've never been good at waking up early.
Basically, if you are proficient at something, you are good at it.
Now, let's practice! Answer the following questions:
Are you good at remembering people's names?
Do you know someone who's good at keeping secrets?
Are you good at accepting compliments? What do you usually say when you receive one?
What is something you would like to be good at?
Now, let's move on to good in.
When to Use Good in
If you perform well or feel comfortable in a particular context, you are good in that context. If you do not perform well or feel comfortable in a particular context, you are not good in it. Here are some categories and examples:
You can be good in specific settings.
He's good in a group setting.
Are you good in fast-paced office environments?
She's never been good in small spaces.
I'm good in natural environments.
You can be good in specific types of situations.
Is he good in a crisis?
She's really good in high-pressure situations.
You need to learn to be good in emergencies.
Do you think I'm good in awkward situations?
You can be good in particular roles or positions.
Note: This usage is most often reserved for actors and employees.
She was really good in that movie!
He's very good in his current leadership position.
She wasn't good in that show. I was disappointed in her acting.
You can look good in particular clothing items or colours.
You look really good in green!
She looks good in that sweater.
Do I look good in this?
I don't look good in red.
Note: You can also say that something looks good on someone. For example, "That shirt looks good on you."
Finally, if you are watching a show or movie that has multiple language tracks, you can say that the movie is good in a particular language. For example, "I really like that movie in the original Japanese, but it's also good in English. The voice actors did a great job."
Now, let's practice. Answer the following questions:
Think of an actor or actress. What movie were they good in?
Do you think you're good in stressful situations?
What colour do you think you look good in?
Are you good in large group settings, small group settings, or both?
Next, let's quickly address an important question.
Can You Sometimes Use Both?
Yes, you can, but you usually have to use different structures. For example, you can say "He's good in groups" or "He's good at working in groups." You can also say "She's good in stressful situations" or "She's good at handling stressful situations."
What about Languages? Should I Use Good at or Good in?
You can use both, but the meaning changes slightly, and one is much more common. For instance, you can say "She's good in English," which means she performs well when she uses English. However, it's much more common to say "She's good at English," which means she has good English skills or that she does well in her English class. Context is always important.
Finally, good at and good in are just the starting points. You can be great at something, bad at something, or better at something than someone else. An actor can be terrible in a movie, and a person can be bad in a crisis. You can also be the best or the worst at something. You can even use the continuous tenses and say you are getting better at something. If you read and listen to a lot of English, you will learn these phrases naturally over time.
Thank you for learning with me today! If you would like to support my work, please consider buying one of my books. They are available in PDF, e-book, and physical formats. Click the picture for more information, and until next time, keep learning and keep practicing.
Note: I edited the text in the What about Languages? section because I was not satisfied with my original explanation. However, I left the original text in the audio recording. The most accurate explanation is what is currently written, not what is in the recording.
